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Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de* {) ^2 y* T" h; T V- O. d0 j" g
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Leeches have been used in medicine for thousands of years. By attaching themselves to the body, and sucking blood from a patient, they were thought to bring health benefits. - Z4 y, g4 d/ ~) i人在德国 社区 9 l3 G$ o4 W- B! Z; r/ Q9 YThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. 7 f3 `4 q, t, a9 ~, X K人在德国 社区" m( a) g$ q, K2 M
That idea fell out of fashion during the 20th century, with the discovery of modern drugs. But today, as interest in traditional medicine grows, they are making a comeback - particularly in the former Soviet State of Georgia. ( F0 D$ e6 U1 h0 Srs238848.rs.hosteurope.de 3 n$ l o& ?8 E' R: o4 e人在德国 社区Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.